PRESS
RELEASE
IN
TELIPOK, 8 JULY 1997
PBS:
PDS SHOULD DISBAND
TELIPOK,
Tues. – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) today urged Parti Demokratik
Sabah (PDS) to dissolve itself because even three years after
the party’s formation it was still dependent on Datuk Joseph Pairin
Kitingan’s name for its political survival.
PBS
deputy president Dr Maximus Ongkili made the call while speaking
to participants of a leadership and manangement workshop for five
PBS West Coast divisions in Kampung Lapasan near here.
"After
more than three years passed since the formation of PDS, its leaders
have continued to claim Pairin’s blessings for their party despite
repeated denials by the PBS president. The first denial was issued
on 17 March 1994, months before PDS was registered.
"This
means that PDS leaders cannot do without Pairin’s name and therefore
void of any real political struggle. PDS also has no grassroot
support as proven during the 1995 parliamentary elections whereby
even its president couldn’t win a seat. A party of this kind should
disband and dissolve itself rather than wasting time on a meaningless
struggle", he said.
Dr
Ongkili said PDS leaders were not telling the truth when they
claimed PDS was formed after Datuk Pairin submitted his resignation
as Chief Minister on 17 March 1994.
"The
truth of the matter is that a unanimous resolution to stay put
in PBS was made by Assemblymen present at a meeting, including
Bernard Dompok and Wilfred Bumburing in the early morning of 15
March 1994 at Datuk Pairin’s house in Jalan Bersatu.
According
to Dr Ongkili he was later awakened by a telephone call from Wilfred
Bumburing at about 8am the same morning informing him that the
plan to form a new political party was to proceed, adding "Datuk
Wilfred said the purpose was to protect Datuk Pairin from certain
charges and to ensure continued jobs for PBS leaders in the government".
Dr
Ongkili further added that he informed Datuk Wilfred then that
he would not follow the group because a resolution not to proceed
with the idea was made only a few hours earlier.
"By
about 10 in the same morning Bernard Dompok and his men were on
the way to Kuala Lumpur to form their party. This was two days
before Datuk Pairin tendered his resignation. They also announced
on television and other media their intention to form a
party
the next day. Therefore PDS leaders’ claim that they formed their
party after Datuk Pairin resigned on 17 March 1994 is baseless
and untrue", he claimed.
The
Bandau member of parliament said Datuk Pairin had to tender his
resignation on 17 March 1994 in line with established convention
because all his senior leaders had deserted him and PBS to pursue
their own political interests.
"At
the time of Pairin’s resignation on 17 March 1994 there were only
about five PBS Assemblymen with him. All the rest had deserted
the party. Of course, Datuk Pairin could have continued to stake
his claim to the chief ministership through legal means and refused
to resign, after all his party won the elections.
"But
Datuk Pairin knew that to do so would cause public disorder given
the tension and anger prevailing at that moment. In choosing between
the post of chief minister and the welfare-cum-security of the
people, Datuk Pairin decided to place the people’s interests above
his personal interests. These truths are public knowledge and
accepted by the people of Sabah", he said.
Dr
Ongkili said the best way to further establish the truth pertaining
to PDS’ formation was to allow the people to make their own judgement
through a fresh state election, stressing that "PDS leaders should
advise the state government to dissolve the assembly and see if
PDS has the grassroot support to continue existing as a party".
